pomp

[pomp]

noun

1. stately or splendid display; splendor; magnificence.

2. ostentatious or vain display, especially of dignity or importance.

3. pomps, pompous displays, actions, or things.

   The official was accompanied by all the pomps of his high position.

4. Archaic.,  a stately or splendid procession; pageant.

pomp

/ pɒmp /

noun

1. stately or magnificent display; ceremonial splendour

2. vain display, esp of dignity or importance

3. obsolete,  a procession or pageant

Other Word Forms

• pompless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pomp¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Latin pompa display, parade, procession < Greek pompḗ originally, a sending, akin to pémpein to send

Word History and Origins

Origin of pomp¹

C14: from Old French pompe, from Latin pompa procession, from Greek pompē; related to Greek pompein to send

Example Sentences

For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

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Even for a professional club it was practicality over pomp.

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Woods was seen as a lone wolf in his pomp.

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The US president's second state visit to the UK - unprecedented for a non-royal - was largely marked by pomp and ceremony to signal the warm relations between the two allies.

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It is his second state visit to the UK and is accompanied by the usual pomp and pageantry.

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Related Words

• fanfare 
• formality 
• grandeur 
• solemnity 
• splendor 

When To Use

What are other ways to say pomp?

Pomp refers to stately or splendid display, or to display that is ostentatious or vain. When should you use pomp over show, display, or ostentation? Find out on Thesaurus.com.